Cougar Town Name 'Not Around Much Longer' - What Would You Title the Show?

Cougar Town cocreator Bill Lawrence has news for fans of the ABC comedy: “Those that loved the title…. [It’s] not around for much longer.”

Lawrence floated that likelihood on Twitter Thursday night, reigniting a dialogue that has dogged the show since Episode 1.

Although at the start Courteney Cox’s divorcée found herself romping with younger guys, that conceit was dropped early into the show’s freshman run, allowing the well-cast comedy to change course, find new footing and emerge as a very strong ensemble effort.

UPDATE: More pragmatically, Lawrence says that ABC research shows there are a “high number of men that will NEVER sample show called [Cougar Town], even those that liked it once they screened an epsiode.” Also problematic is the “incredibly high rate of fans who will not/or can’t get friends to watch due to the title.”

I broke the news about Lawrence pondering a Cougar Town name-change — to better court potential viewers who were likely turned off by the provocative, sexual predator concept — back in January 2010, for TV Guide Magazine, if that gives you an idea of how long this issue has been banging around. But with Season 3 being held for a midseason berth (it will air Tuesdays at 9/8c, once Dancing With the Stars exits the primetime dance floor), there apparently is still time to cage the Cougar in deference to something better.

These days, Lawrence seems to be entertaining Sunshine State (previously off-the-table, because Mr. Sunshine aired on ABC), Friends With Beverages and The Drinking Age as possible titles. Use this poll to throw your weight behind any of the oft-mentioned candidates, or propose one of your own.

Bill Lawrence said that this season is the last chance for Cougar Town to gain viewers, if ratings don`t pick up the show will not survive to see a season 4. So clearly they wanna do something to get more people to watch.

My wife came up with the one word title “Grapes”….The characters are like a bunch of grapes on the vine of life..in many ways different, but in the end quite similar…and let’s face it, it always ends in huge glasses of wine filled to the brim…Cheers!

Grown Ups just reminds me of that horrible Adam Sandler movie. I guess I like The Drinking Age, but I actually don’t mind Cougar Town. And if you don’t watch a show just based on it’s title, changing it in it’s third season probably isn’t going to make you tune in.

I completely agree. I love the title because they make fun of how it doesn’t fit at all anymore. I have a friend who jokingly says he won’t watch anything with a structure in its name (House, Castle). If that’s your criterion, you’ll miss out on many wonderful shows!

I cannot agree more. These suggestions ARE really bad. You know, when the show was first being promoted we were told that the name had to do with the fact that the local high school’s macots were the cougars and hence the name. Any idiot could see that it was a double entendre for what could possibly be the premise of the show, however, Jules dated two maybe 3 younger guys tops. I never believed from the beginning that show was going to be about her dating younger men. This is much ado about nothing. HEY! there’s your title!

dang, they could make a local pro team the Cougars or something, and have Grayson’s bar be their “official hangout” or something equally lame, but sensible. Jules could be their realtor. Laurie could date one. they could golf with Bobby. i mean, it’s not hard to integrate a Cougar theme in small ways.

I wrote in “The Cul-de-Sac Gang”. Cul de Sac Crew would also be fine with me. “Friends with Beverages” should be dis-allowed because of Courtney Cox’s previous show “Friends”. This is NOT a Friends sequel.

I’m much more likely to watch a show called “Penny Can” than Cougar Town… I’d be like “”Penny Can? What is that…” and then when I found it it was a drinking game they play, I’d be like “WHOA SOUNDS FUN”

“The Cul de Sac Crew” all the way. I kind of hate the suggestions above too. “The Family Jules” is okay too. You don’t want to make the same mistake of the original title and go too specific about one premise, so I wouldn’t focus on drinking or penny can.

Many shows change names:
* Valerie to The Hogan Family
* The Seinfeld Chronicles to Seinfeld
* These Friends of Mine to Ellen
* Sonny with a Chance to So Random
* Three’s Company to Three’s a Crowd (or would that be a different show?)

Often, the premise is modified a bit, but they are essentially the same characters.

…and how long did those shows last after the change, besides Seinfeld, who changed early enough that most people hadn’t gotten to know it. This is a number one way to make a great show t-a-n-k. They have great writing, great chemistry between characters, Barb provides the Cougar even if Jules settles down…

If the title is too sophisticated for some to grasp, those aren’t the sort who will appreciate the witty banter anyway. Call it “Hey, let’s get drunk and show some skin!” and keep bringing in bimbos to mess up the actors’ chemistry if you want to attract the “watch it for three episodes then switch to something else” crowd.

These TV pollsters need to only consider one renamed choice if they are insistent on changing it: “Jump the Shark”

Actually, I’ve heard (from less discriminating people) that the show is really funny, but I’ve maintained if they named it something so stupid it can’t be that great. Not the best argument, but people judge shows (and even other people) by their names. They should change it.

No offense intended, but I really hate this narrowminded way of thinking. There are so many books, films, shows and games with bad, weird or inaccurate titles.

Moby Dick: What the hell is that book about? Would more people have read it if it were called Vengeance At Sea? Maybe. Would it be a better book? No. It’s just a title.

RoboCop: A lot of the actors refused to read the script because it sounds like it would be a kids movie or a lame B-movie, but were pestered into giving the script a chance by their agents and friends. Once they started reading, it sparked immediate interest in this dark, modern Frankenstein sci-fi tale with satirical elements.

I wish everyone who enjoys a good show would read me saying this. No matter what the title is, read about it, talk with other people and give the show at least one chance. Lots of people work hard just to entertain you and they deserve that.

If you don’t watch Cougar Town just because the name is Cougar Town then you are missing out. I feel bad for you and people like you. Cougar Town has easily evolved into one of the funniest shows on tv. PENNNYYYYYYYY CANNNNNNNNN!

@TigerNightmare, thanks for the astute reply; you make a very good point. Anyway, I already watch an excellent show with an unfortunate name (The Good Wife), so I guess I could give Cougar Town a chance.

That’s probably the point, by using “Friends” in the title “Friends with Beverages”, they might appeal to the old Friends fans. I, frankly, don’t care for it. Like Cul de Sac Crew, also, someone said Pennies in a Can, that’s actually kind funny LOL

So far all these suggestions only make sense to people who watch the show. Anybody who isn’t familiar with it have now idea what the penny or wine references mean. They need to make it acsessable to new viewers.

EXACTLY. Anything having to do with ‘Cul-de-sac Crew’ or ‘Penny Can’ or any variation of those is not a good choice for a title because it’s references that you understand only if you watch the show. They wouldn’t invite new viewers in.

Also, I think it would be a bad idea to include the word ‘Friends’ on the title…

Overall, I don’t much like any of them but if I had to choose I guess Drinking Age. But without the ‘THE’ at the beginning. ‘The Drinking Age’ makes it sound like a board game or something… just ‘Drinking Age’ is fine.

These suggestions are awful and I think it would be a terrible idea to change the name. I mean, seriously? Season 3 and your show is doing well and you want to change the name simply cause it annoys you?

Re: “doing well,” COUGAR TOWN was regularly shedding more MODERN FAMILY viewers than ABC probably would have liked. As edited into story above, research shows that the audience would (potentially) be bigger with a name change.

ABC didn’t have a TCA panel for Apartment 23 at TCA, the show to be paired with Cougar Town on Tuesdays and I don’t see ABC debuting these shows at end of Nov, early December. They have yet to officially announce those dates. Plus if New Girl becomes a hit, no way will ABC air Cougar Town against it. Basically what I am saying is outisde of the upfronts, ABC has yet to confirm that is where Cougar Town is airing and I will not be surprised if it doesn’t premiere til Jan and in a different slot. Probably will depend on what fails and what doesn’t.

among the suggested ones I think the most appropriate would be Friends & Neighbors, but I’m not fond of it. I don’t think that the title should be related to wine or drinking, it might give the wrong impression to new viewers…
Anyway, my favorite are either FAMILY JULES or (maybe even better) FRIENDS WITHOUT BOUNDARIES (since they already advertised the 2nd season with this name above the title).

that is too bad. that is the only pun title that is ridiculous enough to avoid being really cheesy. in the poll above i voted for sunshine state because it was the only one that wasn’t a cheesy pun! even though it is sort of boring i couldn’t help rolling my eyes at the rest. at least family jules makes me smirk.

I don’t want to change the name! Cougar Town!!
And yes, I agree that these suggested titles are terrible. They don’t say anything about the show. and I don’t like the idea of using the word “Friends” in the title — it only increases the likelihood that people are going to compare it to Friends, which they are probably already going to do but why make it easier for them?
Bill Lawrence, I get that you want to see the show succeed and get more viewers, but if you are going to change the title, make it something awesome. And if the new name is not awesome, leave it alone.
Cougar Town for life! (or at least for another six seasons)

Friends with Beverages has the majority support, but i say no to that for the same reason Sunshine State got denied in the original go round. There’s currently a TERRIBLE show on NBC already called Friends with Benefits…

I love the show, but I’m actually getting tired of this constant “Should we change our name?” I say they just embrace it and screw the people too up their own ass not to give this wonderful show a chance. It’s their loss. I mean I still remember when people wanted to change the name of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Ridiculous.

I kind of like Friends with Beverages, but I don’t think even that one has enough appeal to justify changing it. My first thought was Pounding Grape. Or The Hangovers. Or The Courteney Cox Show. Or they could just keep Cougar Town?

I think changing the title is a very smart idea! I honestly think it is the funniest sitcom on TV and I have had so much trouble getting others to watch because they think it is actually about cougars. Not enough people watch this show and hopefully a title that doesn’t carry such a stigma with it will attract more viewers.

I think the show is a blast! Out of The Middle, Modern Family and Cougartown (and I’m a fan of all three) I always looked forward to Cougartown the most. Yeah it’s over the top, but it totally, unabashedly embraces it’s silliness. I hate that ABC has treated it the worst, but if the ratings aren’t as good, I suppose I understand. Although ABC is on my hitlist right now anyway with the way they are destroying their daytime lineup.

OK, if Bill Lawrence must change the title, fine. But please don’t let the title have the words “wine,” “drinking,” “beverages,” or any other variations of those words, in it. Even if they changed the title to, say, “The Drinking Age,” they’re still running the risk of alienating certain prospective viewers, which is the exact, same problem they had with the original title — it alienated potential viewers because the title made it seem like the show focused too much on one thing. Please don’t also use “Grown Ups.” Seriously, don’t. That’s still going to alienate potential viewers.

I’m not too happy about the imminent name-change, but I’m only a viewer, so my say means tish. I’m still going to watch the show; I just hope it doesn’t end up getting cancelled because Bill Lawrence decided to change its name to “The Drinking Age.”

If they have to change the title, how about “Friends with(out) Boundaries” (with a little emphasis on the ‘out’ in ‘without’ on the title card/logo)? It was on the 2nd season poster, afterall, so at least we have a little bit of continuity. It’s their idea, and I think it fits the show perfectly without being too out there like “Friends with Beverages” or “The Drinking Age.” I get that they drink wine a lot and I personally don’t mind that aspect of the show, but to actually SIMPLIFY the show by stamping “wine” on the title? Forget it.

Also, look at NBC’s Community. The word “community” can mean a lot of things. In the show, “community” obviously stands for community school. Is the show really about a community school? Nope. It centers around a group of misfits in a study group. If Bill Lawrence was running Community, he probably would’ve titled it “The Study Group” or “Misfits”. lol Too obvious. There’s no more room for people to wonder what the show’s about, so they end up rejecting it.

You read my mind, I COMPLETELY agree with you!
I’m afraid that the reference to wine and drinking wouldn’t improve the situation, it might give the wrong impression.
“Friends Without Boundaries” is probably my fav option and a reasonable one, for the reason you said: they already used it to advertise season 2, so it would sound a bit familiar to some people.

With the title change, they should advertise the show as if it’s the first season of a new series to hopefully attract new fans. Keep everything the way it is and don’t reference back to the early “40 is the new 20″ days.

Sunshine State is very nondescript but could be neutral enough to attract a broader audience.
Friends With Beverages does sound like Friends With Benefits, but I don’t think very many people are watching/have heard of that show.
Grown Ups reminds me of that Adam Sandler movie and people may think it’s a tv version.
The Drinking Age makes little to no sense and could be confusing. I don’t even get it. Yes, they drink…but what the eff is the “drinking age”?

Unfortunately, I can’t imagine a world where it’s not titled “Cougar Town.” BUT I’ll still watch it no matter what name it has. Perhaps something more generic would work as opposed to something that narrows down what the show is, since that’s obviously what happened the first time around. I like “Friend With Beverages” the most, however.
Maybe “Sarasota”?

How about cancelling it instead. Courteney Cox has NEVER been funny. Neither has any Bill Lawrence show. He is always whining to the press and coming up with excuses about why people don’t watch his shows (“no network support!”, “bad title”, “waaaaaa”). But the reason so few people watch his shows is because they aren’t appealing. They can name “Cougar Town” whatever they want, but I’ll never watch it, because it’s terribly unfunny.

I don’t get why the name has to change. I get that it is no longer the premise, but I don’t watch the show because of the title, I love the show because of the characters. Will the new Fox show The New Girl change it’s title after the first year, because technically she will no longer be new at that point. I think it is stupid. Leave it at Cougar Town.

ABC missed the boat bigtime. It should have been renamed by June and old episodes with the new title should have aired with aggressive promotion over the summer. This is one of the most enjoyable shows on TV and I think that summer could have been a good time to get people to sample it.